Tag: Alausa

The Lagos State Government on Thursday intensified its smart city initiative with the unveiling of a free public Wi-Fi at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, located at Alausa.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said at the event that one of the overriding policy objectives of his administration was to build a globally competitive economy.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Olufemi Odubiyi, said that the economy of the state was being developed to provide an opportunity for self-fulfilment.

He said that achieving global competitiveness would entail keying into new ways of doing things and the deployment of technology, especially the internet.

According to him, the provision of free public Wi-Fi in the park is part of the administration’s efforts to make Lagos a smart city.

“It is consistent with our commitment to make Lagos work for all.

“Parks and gardens have been established in different parts of the state to provide a conducive environment for recreation and relaxation.

“Just last week, the number of gardens and parks in the state increased with the opening of the Badagry Park.

“The increased patronage of these facilities, which is no longer restricted to festive season, has made it necessary to equip these centres with free Wi-Fi to serve the needs of visitors to these parks.

“As you relax and enjoy the recreation facilities in these parks, we are also making it possible for you to access your email, browse and search the internet on your tablets, smartphones and laptops, via a reliable public Wi-Fi,” he said.

Ambode said the the free Wi-Fi was another landmark in the administration’s desire to integrate the State’s economy in the mainstream of the 21st-century economy.

He said that recently, the government unveiled the Citizens’ Gate Portal, a platform designed to bridge the communication gap between the citizens and the state government.

According to him, his administration, with the launch of the free public Wi-Fi, has empowered citizens to express their views on the platform, as non-availability of data will no longer be a constraint.

“As a responsive government, I wish to assure all residents of Lagos State of our commitment to continue to develop and implement innovative ideas that will promote the delivery of dividends of good governance.

“As I launch the free public Wi-Fi in this park, it is my belief that this service will enhance productivity and add value to all our parks and gardens,” he said.

The free Wi-Fi/internet access project is an initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology.

In his capacity as the Commissioner, Odubiyi said that the free Wi-Fi/internet access at park and Gardens was starting from the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, as it would be extended to others in the State.

He said the government was creating a safe, healthy and conducive environment for the residents of Lagos, in line with the Governor’s pledge at the inception of the administration.

According to him, the administration has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the pledge through various programmes, aimed at making the state livable for all and sundry.

“WiFi is a facility allowing computers, smartphones and other devices to connect to the internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area.

“One of the biggest benefits of offering Wi-Fi is that it will provide new ways for the public to enhance social/leisure activities and this will encourage more patronage to the parks.

“We are embarking on providing free public Wi-Fi in our parks and gardens spread across the states to further enhance social/leisure activities,” Odubiyi said.

Punch Games

A seven-time convict, Emmanuel Oyewunmi, has been arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly stealing from a driver and a passenger.

The 41-year-old, who was arrested at the Ojodu Berger bus stop on Friday, had earlier been declared wanted by the RRS for allegedly stealing the phone of one Mrs. Adesewa Oni in the Alausa area of the state.

It was learnt that the Ikale, Ondo State indigene, was a park keeper outside the Ikeja Shopping Mall, when Oni drove in to attend a ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium.

For watching over her car, Oni, instead of giving the suspect the N200 he requested, decided to drive him to a nearby ATM, where she withdrew money and paid him N1,000.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Oyewunmi, had, however, stolen the victim’s phone while she was withdrawing cash from the ATM.

Oni reportedly noticed that her phone was stolen after leaving the area.

She said, “I had driven five minutes away from Ikeja when I felt the urge to make some calls. It was then I realised that my Samsung Galaxy S4 was missing. Quickly, my mind went to him and I realised my folly. How could I have left a total stranger in my car alone, leaving documents and valuable items in the car with him? I traced him back to that spot, but he was gone.”

Oni said she reported to the RRS, which then launched a manhunt for the suspect.

Oyewunmi, however, ran out of luck when he was arrested on Friday after stealing N600 and a phone from a bus driver and a passenger in the Ojodu Berger area.

Upon interrogation, he reportedly admitted to stealing Oni’s phone, saying he committed the crime when she left him in the car to withdraw money from the ATM.

He blamed his stealing habit on his addiction to hard drugs, adding that he had been rejected by his wife and parent due to the problem.

He said, “As soon as I got the woman’s phone, I went to Ipodo in Ikeja to get hard drugs. The hard drugs dealer bought the phone from me at N8,000.

“Hard drugs have destroyed my life. They were the cause of my rejection by my wife and my father. I got hooked on drugs while I was young and getting out of the addiction has been extremely difficult for me.

“Some faith-based non-governmental organisations have assisted me through rehabilitation in the past. I have, however, always gone back to the habit. Drug has been the predominant cause of my imprisonment. If I am imprisoned now, it will be my eighth time and third time this year.”

Oyewunmi also admitted to stealing from the bus driver and passenger, saying he was under the influence of drug.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest, urging Lagosians not to expose themselves to criminals.

Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Punch Games

Students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine on Monday staged a protest in Alausa, Lagos, accusing the state Ministry of health and the government of failing to properly fund the institution.

Bearing placards with inscriptions such as #DontPoliticiseOurFuture, #SaveLasucomDentistry, #IStandforDentalAccreditation, the students converged on the governor’s office to draw the attention of the government to their grievances.

The students, among other things, accused the health ministry of failing to release N100m, which they said was approved for the institution by the governor months ago.

Some students of Dentistry said they had spent nine years in the institution for a course that was not accredited by the NUC, and argued that improved funding could help speed up the accreditation of the course.

“The governor only approved and signed for the funds to be released; No funds have been released to the school management. We only wanted hastened release of funds to put things in place for our dental accreditation,” a student said.